Waldorf students in action for other Waldorf students all over the world.
Waldorf One World: By taking on one day jobs, organizing sponsored runs, making and selling crafts, putting on circus performances in the pedestrian zone or other activities, students raise money for better learning and living conditions for children all over the world.
Since 1994 Waldorf students from all over Europe have raised about 1,5 million Euro for Waldorf projects and other projects in the realm of education all over the world. In most countries Waldorf schools, Waldorf kindergartens and curative education institutions are not supported by the government. Many struggle to survive from day to day, while trying to provide an education accessible to children that is in accordance with human dignity. This often even just means providing them with a warm meal!
The idea of WOW-Day was born in cooperation with the “European Council of Steiner Waldorf Education - ECSWE”. At a meeting, the Norwegian Waldorf teacher, Astrid Bjöness, reported on the “Operasjon Dagswerk” tradition. On this day the students from all Norwegian high schools earn money for charity (in Germany there is a similar state project “Schüler helfen leben” which supports projects in the Balkan states). The colleagues at the meeting were very enthusiastic and Astrid Bjöness was given the task right away of organizing a “Dagswerk” campaign for the European Waldorf schools.
During the first few years about 20 Waldorf Schools participated at WOW-Day. Later on, the numbers doubled each year. In addition to the German schools many Scandinavian schools took part. Through the efforts of these committed Waldorf students and their teachers raised quite an amount of money each year.
The money is then given to the Friends of Waldorf Education and they pass 100% of the funds on to the projects all over the world. The administration costs are completely covered by the Friends of Waldorf Education and therefore not one cent is lost!
During the past two years the WOW-Day campaigns have been very successful and constantly growing. In 2009 students from 127 Waldorf schools raised 320,000 € trough their commitment. And in 2010 nearly 150 schools participated at WOW-Day raising more than 300,000 € , from which 40 initiatives benefited in 20 countries.
WOW-Day in Germany has become a Europe-wide event that is organized by the Friends of Waldorf Education in cooperation with Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen and ESCWE. On a particular day Waldorf schools all over Europe join forces to collect money for a better future for children all over the world.
The next european WOW-Day campaign will take place on 27. September 2012. Has your school joined yet?
To top WOW-Day 2011
Revenue: 318.466,39 € (13. Feb)
Contact
Olivia Girard
Freunde der Erziehungskunst
Weinmeisterstr. 16
10178 Berlin, Germany
Phone +49 (0)30 617 026 - 30
Fax +49 (0)30 617 026 - 33
berlin@freunde-waldorf.de
Chiara Carones
ECSWE
Kidbrooke Park, Forest Row
East Sussex, RH18 5JA
United Kingdom
Phone +44 (0) 1342 827792
ecswe@waldorf.net
Bank Transfer
Freunde der Erziehungskunst
GLS Bank Bochum
IBAN DE09430609670013042015
BIC GENODEM1GLS
Purpose: Name+Location of School
i.e. Steinerschool Antwerpen, BE